Angelfish Article

[greenmonkey51]

Would there be anyone that would want to write an "Angelfish in the Reef" article for this forum. I know the redundant questions are part of any forum, but this is really starting to get to me. If it could eliminate just a couple of new topics it would serve its purpose.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Unfortunately, I think the same problem will arise as does with this forum as a whole. No one will look for thye previous info, they will just ask again. Then again, a big part of the problem is that the search NEVER works for non-supporing members, so looking up old posts is a moot point for them.

 

[greenmonkey51]

But if stickied at the top it should catch the attention of a couple of people

 

[jda]

Seems like a lot of the posters know that most angelfish are 50/50, but ask about their specific situation (coral type, tank size, etc.) just so see if they want to roll the dice.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

In even MORE honesty, I dont think they'd even listen to the advice they're given. They want to try, and are looking for validation. If 1 person out of 100 says, "oh yeah, it worked for me", while the other 99 say "no way", they're gonna do it. Anyway, it wouldnt hurt, I guess.

 

[LargeAngels]

I think the bottom line is that if you aren't willing to loose something in your Reef don't put an angel in it. If you are willing to loose something and have a plan to remove the culprit then go ahead.

 

[snorvich]

Yeah, I agree with jmaneyapanda, jda and LargeAngels.

A plan to remove a fish is not trivial, especially when talking about an Imperator. Fish trap? ROTFLMAO.

But as mentioned above, all of the questions seem to get re asked. Mandarins in a 6 gallon? Angels in a reef? How do I get my xxx out? What tang for a 12 gallon? Why do my tangs not get along? etc.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12454155#post12454155 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snorvich
Yeah, I agree with jmaneyapanda, jda and LargeAngels.

A plan to remove a fish is not trivial, especially when talking about an Imperator. Fish trap? ROTFLMAO.

But as mentioned above, all of the questions seem to get re asked. Mandarins in a 6 gallon? Angels in a reef? How do I get my xxx out? What tang for a 12 gallon? Why do my tangs not get along? etc.

A couple additional notes:

Snorvich- I have trapped 3 emps out of peoples tanks (not mine), and the secret is to put a mirror in the trap instead of food. No self respecting emperor would EVER allow another on his turf. And with the mirror, that "other guy" is always gesturing, and always getting closer and closer!

I think the first solution to the agreed annoying redundant posts is for RC to allow everyone to search, not just contributors. Or at least, stop the silly "the server is too busy" excuse. Before I started supporting RC, it would drive me crazy, and it was far more useful to simply reposts with likely the same stupid question, rather than manually try to find the thread.

 

[jda]

Honestly, what would we learn without asking some of the same questions and allowing the mini-tangents to start? Sure, we can get the main points from a sticky or a book in a library (assuming that it is accurate). However, the devil is in the details. The details start to seep out of one-off type of threads and could never be captured in a generic "guide."

I want hobbysts to understand the how/why of what they are doing, and not just that they should or should not be doing something. If this means that I have to type, then I am fine with it.

I have always figured that the ones that really want to listen and learn have always used the FAQ, stickies, etc. The ones that post have read them and don't care are a different story... so then we (collectively) have to make them understand the why and how and hope that they make a good choice.

I would really like to see a sticky with an indexed link to all of the fish tales articles that have ever been produced. I love all of them and link them for people to read all of the time - genicanthus, reef safe triggers, reef safe eels and leopard wrasses are my favorites. Perhaps a list exists and I don't know about it - does anybody know of one?

Off topic, but I have been able to trap any fish besides some darned YTB damsels. IME, they will all go in there when they get hungry enough and they see other fish do it and get full.

 

[gnarlyswine]

I Agree totally with the search thing - I unfortunately cant support at the moment but would love to in the future and this is really a pain at the moment - it works once in a blue moon.
If really determined though you can search through google -

just put in something like -

Angelfish reef safe site:www.reefcentral.com/forums

It is very true that having the same topics come up often does mean a lot of information does keep getting added to the pot - more peoples experience etc but it would be nice to put together species articles in a one - stop shop

 

[Kiel'thalin]

The stickies have been tried. Remember this article:
What tang for my 30G?

I think if the stickies could be somehow un-biased (if that is even possible) it would set well and not have some much drama behind him...

 

[snorvich]

jmaneyapanda that is brilliant. A mirror inside the trap is an incredible idea. Just need a large fish trap.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Re: Angelfish Article

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12443481#post12443481 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by greenmonkey51
Would there be anyone that would want to write an "Angelfish in the Reef" article for this forum. I know the redundant questions are part of any forum, but this is really starting to get to me. If it could eliminate just a couple of new topics it would serve its purpose.

read this thread:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1346738&highlight=Angelfish

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12101784#post12101784 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gary Majchrzak
this is a thread to share methods, techniques and suggestions for harmoniously maintaining marine Angelfish with Tridacna clams in reef aquariums.
Please feel free to share your experiences with others here.
A few things might seem obvious for success, but some might not be so obvious to others so let's try to include all factors for success.
First off I'd like to quickly list some of the more obvious:

*aquarium size matters
this is probably the most obvious factor. You can't keep a large clam or large Angelfish in a very small aquarium by itself let alone together. Purchase species that are appropriate for the size of aquarium you're placing them in. Angelfish predation usually increases as the aquarium size decreases- bigger is better!
*species matter
this applies to every animal you place in your aquarium. Some species of Angelfish stay under two inches length while some species grow to around two feet in length. Some Angelfish species are planktivores and some are herbivores. The family varies greatly in habits. IME any Angelfish that's very hungry is a potential threat to clams. Tridacna clams also vary in size with species.
*animal size matters
ties in with species. Small (less than 2") Tridacna can be a challenge to grow even if you don't have an Angelfish in the same aquarium. The success rate is likely to be better if you obtain a clam larger than 2" IME.
The opposite is true with Angelfish- the larger the species/individual fish the easier it is for it to make a quick snack out of your clam.
*placement matters
this is a not-so-obvious factor. Tridacna clams such as maxima and crocea often bore into the substrate (rock/coral) below them in the wild. This leaves only the upward section of their light sensing mantle exposed to fish predation. In nature, as soon as the clam senses something above it retracts it's mantle.
It's usually a different story in reef aquariums. Clams are usually exposed to attack from fishes from the underside. It won't take long for an Angelfish that's hungry to figure out what it needs to do for a free meal of clam chowder.
*feedings matter
pretty obvious. Keep your Angelfish well fed! You might not want to feed it prepared clams (or other meaty seafoods) or it might develop a taste for your Tridacna clam. A refugium and large amount of area (liverock) can also help provide your Angelfish with food.
*luck
every fish has it's own unique "tastes"

more input is always welcome to this thread- it was just a brief summary of some basic advice that might help someone keep these beautiful animals together in their aquarium. In certain cases it might be impossible to keep a Tridacna clam with a certain Angelfish. Each situation is unique.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12458628#post12458628 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snorvich
jmaneyapanda that is brilliant. A mirror inside the trap is an incredible idea. Just need a large fish trap.

I learned it with primates. We could never get the darned things into the transfer crates. Until you put a mirror and a an almond at the mirror. The monkey would see the almond, and the "other" monkey would always get closer and closer to "their" almond.

When I tried it with fish, it worked like a charm.